Standard Chartered community investments impact over 18 million lives across Bangladesh

Standard Chartered Bangladesh has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable development through high-impact projects focused on empowering rural communities, enhancing agricultural livelihoods, driving education, skills-based training and entrepreneurship, and advancing climate resilience.

“The bank supported 18 million beneficiaries across Bangladesh over the last five years in partnerships with NGOs, social enterprises, and academic institutions. This builds on the bank’s focus on long-term community impact initiatives, stretching back over the last two and a half decades,” according to a statement.

Naser Ezaz Bijoy, Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Bangladesh, informed that their community programmes have touched nearly one million lives, including farmers, youth, small businesses, and vulnerable communities, across Bangladesh last year.

“Whether it was planting mangroves, funding agricultural innovation, enabling eye care in remote villages, or creating job opportunities through skills development — we focused on making positive changes in our communities,” Naser Ezaz Bijoy said.

It mentioned that an average monthly income increase of Tk 2,000 to Tk 5,000 per farmer was reported through the implementation of the floriculture cluster project in Jashore.

After the end of the Haor Farmers’ Food Security programme, 80 per cent of 1,500 farmers reported higher food availability and year-round income.

Every beekeeper under the Beekeeping Value Chain project witnessed an increase of annual income by over Tk 25,000 on average.

Improved yield and reduced input costs were reported by over 60 per of 1,450 farmers under Smart Farming Village Initiative project.

Another project, titled Climate-Affected Livelihoods in Chars, involving more than 3,000 families, has brought diversified income streams and reduced economic vulnerability.

The Youth Skilling and Employment in Gazipur project ensured employment with local industries and SMEs and skills in machine operation, tailoring, mobile phone servicing technologies.

Bitopi Das Chowdhury, Country Head of Corporate Affairs and Brand & Marketing (CABM) of Standard Chartered Bangladesh, said, "We are privileged to stand beside our partners and communities as they lead change across our communities. This year’s stories are more than numbers—they are about resilience, dignity, and hope taking root in every household, field, polyhouse, and beehive."

The statement says these initiatives are part of Standard Chartered’s broader strategy to support Bangladesh’s sustainable development while delivering on the bank’s brand promise—here for good.

“As Bangladesh’s long-term partner in building a better future, Standard Chartered has been deeply embedded in the nation’s growth story for over 120 years. The bank remains committed to driving commerce, fostering inclusive development, and investing in communities through impactful initiatives that create lasting impact.”